Interchangeable medallion table

ABSTRACT

The invention includes a game table, such as a pool or billiard table, with interchangeable parts that can change the look or style of the table by someone other than the factory that originally produced or manufactured the table.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/911,116, filed Apr. 11, 2007, thedisclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pool or billiards tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Game tables, such as pool tables and billiard tables, are conventionallydistinguished in style at the time of manufacturing. Consumers areconfined to the style and design of the table as set by themanufacturer. Changing the style or design generally requires one topurchase a new table. Also, retailers are required to stock and displaytables with several designs in order to appeal to as many potentialconsumers as possible.

Therefore, a game table with a changeable design is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an apparatus and a methodto enable the seller or user of a game table to have the ability tocustomize the table with interchangeable decorative components, such asa medallion. The game table may be a pool table, billiard table, pokertable, or any other table with a game surface.

The decorative components can be added onto the table by fastening ontospecific areas that are made to accept the component parts. Thecomponent parts have certain decorative designs that cause the generallook, or theme, of the table to change through showing the particulardesign of the component part. For example, a table could show a fishmedallion on the sides of the table that would appeal to a fisherman.Another medallion that could be shown would be a pineapple that wouldgive a hospitality or tropical look to the table. The medallions wouldbe available to the seller or user as an add-on feature. The table wouldbe manufactured without medallions and it would be up to the buyer ofthe table to decide which decorative medallion will be put on the table.

The various medallions would he manufactured and offered as add-oncomponents to the buyer. These components would he relatively smallerthan the size of the game table. One example would be that the sellerhas an advantage in that they could purchase one generic pool table andpay the freight costs for the table, usually around 500 to 600 pounds,but have multiple sets of medallions with various designs that now givethem the ability to offer or have multiple table designs with the onetable. Due to the relatively small size of the medallions, the freightcosts for the medallions would be much less as the medallions generallyweigh less than the table weight.

This method of interchangeability has certain benefits such as reducedfreight costs, lower inventory levels, sales and marketing promotion,and wider customer appeal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the interchangeable medallion table ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the interchangeable medallion tablehaving alternative placards and medallions;

FIG. 3A is a side view of a medallion and the table frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is an exploded side view of the medallion and table frame ofFIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a side view of an alternative medallion and the table frameof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is an exploded side view of the alternative medallion and tableframe of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side view of a further alternative medallion and the tableframe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B is an exploded side view of the further alternative medallionand table frame of FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the stored medallions.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrateseveral embodiments of the invention but should not be construed aslimiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the interchangeable medallion tableof the present invention. The table 10 includes a table frame 12 and adesign element or medallion 14.

The frame 12, and table 10 in general may have a design thereon that isgeneric to several different medallions 14, or that is minimal so thatany number of medallions may be used with the table. Alternatively, theframe may have no design at all. The medallions may be inexpensive andlightweight so that a user or a retailer may have numerous medallionswith different designs on hand. In this case, while the medallions 14having a particular theme are displayed on the table, alternativemedallions 15 having a different theme may be easily stored (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the medallion 14 is a circular block with atapped blind bore 16 in the back that mates with a screw 18. The screwpasses through a clearance hole in the frame 12 to secure the medallion14 to the table. The medallion 14 may alternatively be made withdifferent shapes and sizes. Particularly, the design element may be alarge block or placard 20 instead of a medallion as shown if FIG. 2. Inthis embodiment, the block covers a substantial part of the frame tohave a larger affect on the design of the table. Such a large block mayrequire multiple fasteners to secure it to the frame.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fastener 18is replaced by a push-button quick-release pin 22 incorporated into theframe. The pin 22 may be attached to the frame by adhesive,press-fitting, or other fastening means. The quick-release mechanism mayinclude spring-loaded arms or ball bearings that are retracted bydepressing a button on the end of the pin. The blind bore 16′ of themedallion 14′ includes a ledge 17 to catch the arms/bearings of thequick- release pin. In a further alternative embodiment shown in FIGS.5A and 5B, a dowel 24 is adhered, press fit, or otherwise affixed to theframe 12. The dowel 24 includes an o-ring 26 that cooperates with arecessed ring 27 communicating with the blind bore 16″. The medallion14″ then simply snaps onto the dowel 24. In either of the alternativeembodiments the blind bore 16′ or 16″ may include angled sides as shownin the figures for easier attachment to the pin or dowel.

In use, a retailer has a small number of game tables 10 having a genericor minimal design and a large variety of medallions 14 in stock. Aconsumer purchases one of the tables and chooses a style of medallion ora theme for the table. The retailer or the consumer attaches themedallions to the table by fitting the screw 18 into the through hole inthe frame 12, aligning the medallion 14 with the frame 12, andtightening the screw 18 into the tapped blind bore 16 as shown in FIGS.3A and 3B. Alternatively, the user snaps the medallion 14′ onto thequick-release pin 22 by aligning the blind bore 16′ with the pin 22 andpressing the medallion 14′ onto the pin. The user may alternatively snapthe medallion 14″ onto the dowel 24 by aligning the blind bore 16″ withthe pin 22 and pressing the medallion 14″ onto the dowel 24.

The consumer may also buy several medallion themes in order to mix andmatch the medallions or to change the theme for different occasions. Forexample, a user that usually has a nautical themed table may host atropical-themed party. In this case the user may replace the nauticalmedallions with pineapple medallions. The consumer could also havemedallions with one or more initials of his or her name and therebyprovide a monogram for the game table. Such medallions could be blankwhen shipped and later routed with a mechanical or laser routing machineto have a design or initials. As an alternative, a substrate with adesign could be affixed to a blank or smooth medallion. For example, aimage could be printed on paper, cloth or other substrate material andthe substrate could be attached to the blank medallion surface. Theattachment could be temporary or permanent, depending upon the means forattachment. For example, some adhesive are more releaseable than others.

Although the medallions are shown in the figures as being affixed to thecenter of the sides of the table, they may be placed anywhere in use.Further, more than one medallion may be placed on a side as shown inFIG. 2,

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that theinvention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as thebest mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope andspirit of the appended claims.

1. A game table, comprising: a frame; a first plurality of designelements having designs thereon, one or more of the first plurality ofdesign elements being removably affixed to the frame; and a secondplurality of design elements having designs thereon, the secondplurality of design element being operable to be removably affixed tothe frame.
 2. The game table of claim 1, the first plurality of designelements being medallions.
 3. The game table of claim 1, the designs ofthe first plurality of design elements comprising a first theme and thedesigns of the second plurality of design elements comprising a secondtheme, wherein the first theme and the second theme are different. 4.The game table of claim 1, each design element defining a tapped blindbore that is operable to engage a threaded fastener associated with theframe.
 5. The game table of claim 1, the each design element defining ablind bore configured to engage a quick-release pin affixed to theframe.
 6. A pool or billiard table comprising: a frame disposed aroundthe periphery of the table with panels on all sides of the table andcovering the frame; one or more apertures in the frame, each apertureextending through the frame; a medallion having an outside surface forbearing a decoration and an inside surface for contacting a side of thetable; means for engaging and retaining he medallion to the side of thetable.
 7. The pool or billiard table of claim 6 wherein the medallionhas a threaded bore and the means for engaging and retaining themedallion comprises a matching threaded screw.
 8. The pool or billiardtable of claim 6 wherein the medallion has a stepped bore and the meansfor engaging and retatingin the medallion comprises a quick release pinoperable from a extended position to a retracted position to fit insidethe stepped bore whereby upon release the pin engages the side or stepin the bore and holds the medallion in place.
 96. A method of changing agame table design, comprising the steps of: a) providing a game tableframe having a plurality of first design elements removably affixedthereto; b) providing a second plurality of design elements c) removingthe first plurality of design elements; and c) affixing one or more ofthe second plurality of design elements to the frame.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, the first plurality of design elements being medallions. 11.The method of claim 9, the first plurality of design elements comprisinga first theme and second plurality of design elements comprising asecond theme, wherein the first theme and the second theme aredifferent.
 12. The method of claim 9, each design element defining atapped blind bore that is operable to engage a threaded fastenerassociated with the frame.
 13. The method of claim 9, the each designelement defining a blind bore configured to engage a quick-release pinaffixed to the frame.